On February 28, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application detailing the MacBook Air’s collapsible port feature. The patent presents evidence that the collapsible port was originally earmarked for the rear of the notebook and was to present additional options. Yet what was interesting to discover is that this new collapsible port isn’t limited to the MacBook Air. According to Apple’s own technical notes, “the present invention may apply to other types of devices, and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.”

MacBook Air’s Flip-Down Port Hatch

Apple highlights the MacBook Air’s innovative features on their websites by stating that “the innovative now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t port hatch flips down to reveal (and closes to hide) all the ports you really need: a USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a micro-DVI port that supports DVI, VGA, composite, and S-video output. Even the MagSafe power connection has been reconsidered and slimmed to fit MacBook Air.”

Apple’s Collapsible Port Patent

According to Apple’s patent, “Mobile devices such as notebook computers are becoming increasingly thinner. As a result, connection systems need to be reduced in size to accommodate smaller form factors. The connection system includes a connection receptacle that is implemented as two separate components. One of the components is fixed in that it is coupled to the chassis, and the other component is rotatable or coupled to a moving mechanism. The combination of the fixed and rotating components are adapted to receive a plug when the connection receptacle is in an open position, and the fixed and rotating components are collapsed into a compact configuration when the connection receptacle is in a closed position. This collapsing function enables a substantial reduction in the size of the connection system and thereby enables a substantial reduction in the form factor of a device implementing the connection system. To more particularly describe the features of the present invention, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Apple’s patent FIG 2B is a perspective-view diagram of a mobile device, which may be used to implement the mobile device. It’s self evident by this illustration that Apple’s original placement of the collapsible port hatch was to be positioned in the rear of the notebook.

Future Expansion Options

Apple’s patent figures 7A and 7B, noted below, illustrate that more ports could be added to future devices.

According to Apple’s technical notes, “FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective-view diagrams of a connection system 140, which may be used to implement the connection system 110 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the connection system 140 includes a connector receptacle 142 that is implemented as two separate components: a fixed component 144 that is coupled to a portion of the mobile device chassis 145 and a rotating component 146 that is coupled to a connection system frame 148. In this specific embodiment, the connector receptacle 142 is implemented as an RJ-45 port. The connector receptacle 142 is accessible to a user when the connection system 140 is in an open position (FIG. 7A) such that an external cable (i.e., a plug of a cable) may be inserted into the connector receptacle 142. The connector receptacle 142 is in a closed or stowed position when the connection system 140 is in a closed position. FIG. 7B shows the connector receptacle 142 in a partially closed position to show the movement of the rotating component 146 relative to the fixed component 144. FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective-view diagrams of the connection receptacle 142 of FIGS. 7A and 7B, where the connection receptacle 142 is in an open position, and in a closed position, respectively, in accordance with the present invention.

As described above, although the present invention disclosed herein is described in the context of multiple ports integrated into the connection system 140, the present invention may apply to other configurations, and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, each port (e.g., the RJ-45 port 142, as well as the USB and FireWire ports described below) can be separate from other ports such that a single port can be moved into open and closed positions independent from other ports.

Apple lists Gavin Reid (Campbell, CA), Chris Ligtenberg (San Carlos, CA) and Bartley K. Andre (Menlo Park, CA) as the inventors of this patent.

Other Apple Patents Published Today

Other Apple patents listed today included Media management system for management of games acquired from a media server, Method for shifting pitches of audio signals to a desired pitch relationship, Graphically Depicting Program Code Depth and System and Method for Mitigating Repeated Crashes of an Application Resulting from Supplemental Code.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.